Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. NVMI is set to report third-quarter 2018 results on Nov 1.We note that the company has outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, delivering an average positive surprise of 21%.In the last reported quarter, Nova delivered non-GAAP earnings of 46 cents per share, recording a positive surprise of 9.52%. However, the figure declined 13.2% year over year and 14.8% sequentially.Revenues increased 10.3% year over year but declined 1.1% sequentially to $61.9 million. Notably, the figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $61 million. The year over year growth was attributed to strengthening customer base of the company. Moreover, strong contributions from the company’s memory customers drove the top line.For the third quarter, the company expects non-GAAP earnings to lie between 37 cents and 49 cents per share. Further, the revenues are projected to be in the range of $58-$64 million.Let’s see how things are shaping up for this quarter.Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. Price and EPS Surprise Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. Price and EPS Surprise | Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. QuoteFactors at PlayNova’s diversified technology portfolio serving various types of customers remains its key growth driver and is expected to aid the to-be-reported quarter results. Further, its strong presence in China is a major catalyst.Further, the company’s expanding footprint in the front-end semiconductor supply chain remains positive. Moreover, Nova’s strengthening memory portfolio and enhancements in the 3D NAND market are boosting its presence in the semiconductor industry. These factors are likely to aid its primary growth drivers..Additionally, the company’s increasing foundry spending on Logic node below 7-nanometer will continue to aid growth in the orders received.Furthermore, its robust metrology solutions portfolio comprising of OCD metrology and integrated X-ray metrology offerings are likely to continue aiding its momentum in the memory space.Also, growing adoption of Nova’s latest metrology solutions – i550 integrated metrology, T600 NMSR standalone, VeraFlex III plus XPS and the Nova Fleet software engines are expected to drive the top line in the to-be-reported quarter.However, the sluggishness in the memory spending globally remains a concern for the company’s business growth.What Our Model SaysAccording to the Zacks model, a company with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) has good chance of beating estimates if it also has a positive Earnings ESP. The Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Rank #4 or 5) are best avoided. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.Nova currently has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of 0.00%, making the surprise prediction difficult.Stocks That Warrant a LookHere are few stocks worth considering as our model shows that it has the right combination of elements to deliver an earnings beat in the upcoming releases.AMETEK AME has an Earnings ESP of +0.71% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Box BOX has an Earnings ESP of +5.41% and a Zacks Rank #3.Analog Devices ADI has an Earnings ESP of +1.75% and Zacks Rank #3.The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Box, Inc. (BOX): Free Stock Analysis Report Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. (NVMI): Free Stock Analysis Report Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI): Free Stock Analysis Report AMETEK, Inc. (AME): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research